ArticlesAdvisory Panel on Land Reform Draws Up Report

The Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture has drafted its report and handed it to president Ramaphosa.

The Advisory Panel was set up in September 2018 to support the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Land Reform.

In an earlier statement, the presidency indicated that the Panel will “advise the IMC on a broad range of policy matters associated with land reform, including restitution, redistribution, tenure security and agricultural support”.

In April 2019, the Panel was given more time to complete its report.

In the latest statement, the presidency indicates that the Panel, to support sound policy making, was “mandated to review, research and suggest models for government to implement a fair and equitable land reform process that redresses the injustices of the past, increases agricultural output, promotes economic growth and protects food security”.

The Panel was also tasked with considering “persisting land inequality, unsatisfactory land and agrarian reform and uneven urban land development”.

President Ramaphosa welcomed the report describing it as an “important step forward in our quest to right the original sin by developing solutions which are not only uniquely South African but most importantly, build a society in which all may share in the wealth of our land.”

The report will first be tabled before cabinet for approval before being released to the public.